Improvement in railroad jacks



T. J. TODD.

improvement in Raiiroad-Jacks.

130,338 Patented Aug. 6,1872.

nun/551;

I 8am A mm M UNITED STATES PATENT OF IC THOMAS J. TODD, OF RARITAN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND AMOS BURR, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILROAD JACKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,338, dated August 6, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

I, THOMAS J. TODD, of Barit-an, in the countyof Somerset and State of N ew Jersey, have invented an Improved Track-Raiser or Railroad Jack, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to the combination of double jaws to grapple the rail, and a guard or keeper to secure them thereon, with a suitable lifting-screw and supporting bridge or tripod; the object of my invention being to provide for a better and more secure hold upon the rail to be lifted by the lifting device.

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved device.

A is a bridge-tripod or arched support of ordinary construction, and B a long screw passin g centrally through the arch thereof, to be operated by a suitable lever, (J, in the usual manner. D is a strong block, pivoted upon the lower end of the screw B, so as to turn freely thereon. E E are right-angled jaws, pivoted each by one arm in slots in the ends of the block D, so that the free arm shall swing under the block in a plane parallel thereto, as illustrated in Fig. 1. F is a strong metallic band, made so much larger than the block D as to slip loosely over the same. This band is suspended around the block D and jaws E E by means of a transverse strap, G, secured at either end to said band F at opposite central points, and which, passing centrally over the block D, is secured from displacement by means of the screw B, upon which it has free play, as illustrated in the drawing. In lifting a rail the band F is lifted so as to allow the jaws E E to swing open, as illustrated by dotted lines in the drawing. The apparatus being properly fixed over the rail, the jaws are slipped over it so that they may close in on either side against the web of the rail under its head. The band F is then dropped down so as to lock them, and by turning the screw B by means of the lever O the rail is easily lifted from its bed, and may be thus supported at any desired height until its bed is elevated or repaired, as required.

Claim I claim as my invention The combination of the slotted block 1), pivoted right-angled jaws E E, band F, and strap G, with the screw A, and a suitable bridge or tripod to support the same, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

THOMAS J. TODD.

Witnesses:

FRED. J. FRELINGHUYSEN, J OHN FRELINGHUYSEN. 

